Kanu Kākou
Let's plant together
Achei Aloha Highway Planting Project Proposal
-
Pending Hawai'i DOT authorization
About the project
Kanu Kākou is Achei Aloha's most ambitious initiative to date, a living fruit tree corridor along the mauka shoulder of Kalanianaʻole Highway at the entrance to Waimānalo.
Twenty-seven food-producing trees and plants, rooted in Hawaiian tradition, freely available to anyone who passes through.
Kanu Kākou — "we plant together" in Hawaiian — is a community fruit tree corridor proposed for the mauka (mountain-side) shoulder of Kalanianaʻole Highway, Route 72, near milepost 72 at the entrance to Waimānalo. The corridor will stretch approximately 150 feet, set back from traffic lanes and close to the hillside, featuring a staggered mix of dwarf avocado, ʻulu (breadfruit), maiʻa (banana), papaya, and citrus trees.
This is not a landscaping project. It is a living expression of three values Achei Aloha holds at its core: caring for the environment, increasing food access, and restoring the cultural practices that connect this community to its ʻāina. In traditional Hawaiian culture, food trees were planted along pathways so that travelers and neighbors would always find nourishment. Kanu Kākou brings that practice back to one of Oʻahu's most traveled roads.
WHY IT MATTERS?
Food trees along our roadsides aren't just beautiful — they're a bridge back to how our kūpuna cared for this land. Kanu Kākou connects Achei Aloha's three core commitments: environmental stewardship, food access, and cultural restoration.
Environmental stewardship
27 trees absorbing carbon, cooling the road, supporting pollinators, and protecting the mauka shoulder from erosion — a permanent environmental asset along one of Oʻahu's most beautiful coastlines.
Food access
Waimānalo has one of the highest food insecurity rates on Oʻahu. A corridor of free, accessible, fruit-producing trees along the community's main road offers something immediate and real: food that belongs to everyone.
Cultural restoration
Planting ʻulu, maiʻa, and other food plants along a public pathway is a centuries-old Hawaiian act of generosity. Kanu Kākou restores that practice — visibly, permanently, and for everyone.
CLOSE UP VIEW
WHAT WE ARE PLANTING?
'ULU - Breadfruit
AVOKADO - Avocado
MAI'A - Banana
MIKANA - Papaya
CITRUS - Orange, Lime and Lemon
All species are dwarf, locally grown, non-invasive, and suited to East Oʻahu's climate.
Trees will be sourced from Well Fed Ohana and maintained by Ma Farm, ensuring every plant is cared for by experienced hands rooted in the same community.
PROJECT TIMELINE
1 - DOT permit approval
Achei Aloha has submitted a planting permit proposal to the Hawaii Department of Transportation. We are awaiting written approval before any planting begins.
2 - Community planting day
Once the permit is approved, we will host a community planting event open to all volunteers. Well Fed Ohana will supply the trees, and Swigs & Grinds will donate pupus and drinks for everyone who shows up.
3 - Long-term stewardship
Ma Farm will maintain all trees on an ongoing basis — pruning, health checks, and replacements as needed. Achei Aloha will provide monthly visits and annual reports to DOT.
4 - A living corridor — forever
The fruit corridor is designed to thrive for decades. Every tree planted is a permanent gift to Waimānalo: shade, food, beauty, and a living connection to the Hawaiian values that make this place home.